Reading, writing and arithmetic are mainstays in schools but a course at Heritage Woods secondary is adding an increasingly popular subject to the list: social responsibility.
An independent directed studies program encourages students to come up with their own way of giving back to their community. Whether it be through an environmental initiative or a homelessness awareness campaign, the course sets out to change some of the perceptions surrounding young people today.
Danielle Morneau, an IDS student, said she wants the community to know that most youth care about the world around them and are more than just Facebook-updating Xbox gamers.
"I find it alarming that, as students, people think we can't do anything," she said. "We can make a difference."
The 17-year-old student plans on doing her part, organizing an event on Sunday, Feb. 13 she hopes will raise money and awareness of the homelessness issue in the Tri-Cities.
Light Up the Night will take participants on a 30-minute walking tour of Port Coquitlam in an effort to showcase the difficulties homeless people face. Proceeds will go toward a shelter planned for 3030 Gordon Ave. in Coquitlam but Morneau said she hopes the event will give the public a better understanding of the issue.
"We have to realize this is not just in Vancouver, this is not just in Port Coquitlam," she said. "If you look, you can find homelessness in each community."
So far, 50 people have registered to participate in the walk and more are signing up at www.lightupthenight.ca. Some of the participants include Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart and Coun. Selina Robinson as well as PoCo Mayor Greg Moore. Morneau said she is committed to the homelessness cause and would likely be organizing an event even if she wasn't in the independent directed studies class. Still, receiving high school credit is an appreciated reward for her hard work, she said.
Tara Olchowy, her IDS teacher, said students come in to the course with a variety of different ideas for community initiatives.
"The idea is to foster that feeling of social responsibility," she said. "Many of the students have shown an interest even before coming into the course."
One student, Olchowy said, is busy organizing a fashion show that will feature clothing made entirely out of recyclable materials, with all of the proceeds from the event to be donated to various green-oriented charities.
Another group of students is holding information sessions with middle school students in the community in order to teach younger people about the importance of philanthropy.
"We have 30 students doing this and all of them are working on projects of this type," Olchowy said. "There is a range of ideas."
Light Up the Night will start at Leigh Square on Feb. 13. Registration begins at 7 p.m. and the walk is set to take place at 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.lightupthenight.ca, search "Light Up the Night" on Facebook or visit www.twitter.com/Lightup_night.
